Amsler Island facts for kids
 Amsler Island
Location in Antarctica
Location in Antarctica
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| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Antarctica |
| Coordinates | 64°45′48″S 64°05′12″W / 64.76333°S 64.08667°W |
| Archipelago | Palmer Archipelago |
| Length | 2.1 km (1.3 mi) |
| Width | 1 km (0.6 mi) |
| Administration | |
| Administered under the Antarctic Treaty System | |
| Demographics | |
| Population | Uninhabited |
Amsler Island is a small, rocky island located near the coast of Antarctica. It's part of the Palmer Archipelago, a group of islands off the Antarctic Peninsula. This island sits close to Anvers Island, between two areas called Loudwater Cove and Arthur Harbour.
Amsler Island is shaped a bit like a triangle. It's about 2.1 kilometers (1.3 miles) long. At its widest point, it measures about 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) across. The western tip of the island is known as Norsel Point.
Discovering Amsler Island
For a long time, people thought Amsler Island was actually connected to Anvers Island. This was because a thick sheet of ice, called the Marr Ice Piedmont, covered the gap between them.
In 1955, a group called the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey (FIDS) explored this area. They mapped the southern coast of Anvers Island, which included the land we now know as Amsler Island. Norsel Point was named by a British committee after the Norwegian sealing ship Norsel, which helped with the FIDS survey.
However, things changed in 2004. The ice covering the gap between the islands began to melt quickly. This melting revealed that Amsler Island was a separate piece of land! This discovery was due to the effects of global warming.
The United States Board on Geographic Names officially named the island Amsler Island. This was to honor American marine biologists Charles and Margaret Amsler. They are a husband-and-wife team who have studied the ocean life in this area for more than 30 years. The name Norsel Point was kept for the island's western tip.
Research and Wildlife
Amsler Island has a special connection to scientific research. From 1965 to 1968, it was the first home for Palmer Station. This is a research base for the United States Antarctic Program. The current Palmer Station is now located about 0.8 kilometers (0.5 miles) away.
Just south of Amsler Island are three large rocks called the Elephant Rocks. These rocks are connected by sandy areas underwater. They got their name from the scientists at Palmer Station around 1971. This is because these rocks are a favorite spot for elephant seals to rest.
